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This week: Signal messaging trials crypto payments, UNICEF's bitcoin donation, Playboy and Tom Brady go full into NFTs, blockchain in identity and vaccine certificates and the orchestra trialling blockchain ticketing

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South Korea to launch blockchain-based vaccine certificate

The South Korean government has confirmed it is using a blockchain-based application to record its COVID-19 vaccination certificates. Blockchain will be used to eliminate false or misattributed certificates, by proving that the certificate in question corresponds to the person attempting to use it. The health passport South Korea is developing is designed to be compliant with the systems used by other countries to track COVID-19. (Ledger Insights) Read More

Boston Symphony Orchestra trials blockchain ticketing

Classical music is the latest sector to be blockchained, with Boston Symphony Orchestra conducting a program to record concert tickets onchain. Boston startup True Tickets, whose solution utilises blockchain for mobile ticketing, is complementing BSO’s existing ticketing system with its own blockchain-based version, built on Hyperledger Fabric and hosted by IBM. (Ledger Insights) Read More

Department of Defense- blockchain to track aircraft testing

What does blockchain have to do with fighter jets? More than you might think, it transpires. The Department of Defense (DoD) is using blockchain to record testing and certification undertaken by contractors to provide an immutable record of work done. Authenticiti, which is developing the project, is using an enterprise version of the Ethereum blockchain. Other US defence departments, including the Airforce and Navy, are also using blockchain for tracing aircraft parts. (Ledger Insights) Read More

Deutsche Telekom's German gov- backed identity project

The second phase of a self-sovereign identity (SSI) project using blockchain technology is underway in Germany. Led by Deutsche Telekom, the program is backed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. In addition to Deutsche Telekom, GS1 Germany, Robert Bosch, and Siemens are partners in the SSI project. Use cases include e-health, IoT, and finance, with the technology to be used for verifying the identities of both people and machines. (Ledger Insights) Read More

Credit Suisse uses Paxos blockchain for equities settlement

On the Paxos blockchain, Credit Suisse and Nomura’s Instinet have trialled settlements for US equities. During the experiment, two trades a day were settled at 16:30 ET. Paxos is waiting for SEC approval to roll out its blockchain-based settlement layer, which is currently greenlit until October with up to seven participants that each have a maximum of $100 million in capital. (Ledger Insights) Read More

Signal messenger UK app tests MobileCoin crypto payments 

Encrypted messenger service Signal, which is a firm favourite with crypto users, has begun trialling a new payments feature. The token supported for this purpose is MobileCoin (MOBI), a privacy-focused currency that’s derived from Monero and which has been attracting a lot of hype lately after exiting stealth mode. Look under “Signal Payments” in the app to see if this beta feature has been added on your device. (TheBlock) Read More

UNICEF CryptoFund receives $1 million BTC & fiat donation

A generous benefactor has pledged $425,000 in BTC and a total of $1 million to UNICEF’s CryptoFund. The moneyed donor is no less than Huobi exchange, which will be giving $640,000 in fiat in addition to some bitcoin over the course of the next three years. In total, more than $5 million in crypto has been donated to the UNICEF fund since it launched to support its development of open source technology including blockchain to benefit children. (Decrypt) Read More

Bank of Japan starts CBDC trial for digital yen 

The Bank of Japan has confirmed that it has started trials of a digital yen in the first phase of its CBDC experiment. The Proof of Concept phase will run for one year and test basic functions such as issuance, distribution, and redemption. Despite being a tech-savvy and digitally literate society, Japan still relies heavily on cash payments within the retail sector. Thus there are social as well as technical barriers to be overcome for the digital yen to become a reality. (Ledger Insights) Read More

Sweden’s central bank completes 1st phase of digital currency

Meanwhile, back in Europe, Sweden’s central bank is making headway with its own digital currency scheme. The Riksbank’s proposed CBDC requires some modifications, it appears, before it will be suited to consumer payments. The biggest issue they’ve encountered concerns scalability, something blockchain developers are only too familiar with. For Sweden’s CBDC to be further developed, they’ll need to find a way for it to process more transactions per second. (Cointelegraph) Read More

NBA Sacramento Kings players can now be paid in bitcoin

The ties between the NBA and the cryptoconomy continue to strengthen, with the Sacramento Kings the latest team to embrace bitcoin. During a Clubhouse interview, team chairman Vivek Ranadivé said that anyone at the company can now receive part of their salary in bitcoin if they like – players included. In 2014, the Sacramento Kings became the first NBA team to accept BTC as payment in its stadium. (Bitcoin .com) Read More

VCs have invested $16 billion in blockchain equity since 2021

Over the past eight years, venture capital firms have invested in 3,000 blockchain deals worth $16 billion. The Cointelegraph Blockchain Venture Capital Report illuminates the inflow of VC money to the crypto space, but notes that it still only makes up 1% of the global venture capital market. In 2020, most of that VC money was directed at defi, but this year, there’s another crypto vertical that’s turning heads and capturing seed money: NFTs. (CoinTelegraph) Read More

UK bitcoin mining revenues climb but China still dominates

Argo blockchain, a UK-based mining company, has reported the best quarter in its history, with record BTC mining revenues. In Q1 of 2021, Argo mined 387 BTC and claimed revenue of £13.4 million. It now holds 764 BTC and has turned its attention to setting up a bitcoin mining pool powered entirely by renewable energy sources. Despite Argo’s record quarter, 75% of all bitcoin mining still remains situated in China however (CoinTelegraph) Read More

Paris Hilton is legitimately into Bitcoin

Celebs flirting with crypto has become a regular occurrence, with some dalliances (think Lindsay Lohan) appearing less “organic” than others. Socialite Paris Hilton can now be added to the list of celeb crypto endorsers, and what’s more, there’s evidence that she isn’t just paying lip service to the movement. Word on the street is that Hilton has been invested in crypto for some time, with it suggested that she first started buying ETH in the $300 range. (Bitcoin .com)  Read More

Coinbase predicts $1.8 billion in Q1 revenue

With its stock market listing looming, Coinbase has been frantically filing paperwork and shedding the spotlight on its inner workings. The most interesting stats to emerge from this flurry of activity are that it expects Q1 revenue of $1.8 billion and has 56 million verified customers. Oh, and it holds $233 billion of crypto assets. On April 14, the San Francisco exchange will list on the Nasdaq. (TheBlock) Read More

Former BitMEX CEO surrenders to US authorities

Arthur Hayes, the larger-than-life co-founder and former CEO of BitMEX exchange, has surrendered to US authorities to face the music. Hayes was indicted for money laundering charges pertaining to his stewardship of BitMEX and its alleged willingness to serve unverified US customers. After appearing in court, the former BitMEX boss was released on a $10 million bond. While prison time is a possibility, it’s been speculated that a hefty fine may be negotiated by way of settlement instead. (CoinDesk) Read More

Blockchain consultant Michael Hlady pleads guilty to extortion

What would crypto be without a smattering of criminality? Like all industries, crypto has its share of shady figures who are less interested in banking the unbanked and more concerned with enriching themselves by any means possible. Michael Hlady of blockchain consulting firm Alchemist has pleaded guilty to extorting a company for millions of dollars of ETH. He could face up to 20 years in jail and a hefty fine. (CoinDesk) Read More

Playboy makes a play for NFTs 

To misquote Andy Warhol, in the future everyone will own an NFT for 15 minutes. That future is now and the latest big brand to jump on the bandwagon is Playboy, which has teamed up with Nifty Gateway to issue classic centerfolds as NFTs. It’s a chance for the publishing empire to monetize its archival content while giving fanboys – and girls – digital collectibles to lust over. This is either the top of the NFT market or the start of a new chapter. (Decrypt) Read More

American footballer Tom Brady is launching an NFT platform

While there’s a lot more to crypto than NFTs, it would be remiss to overlook them in a week where both Playboy and Tom Brady announce their entry into the ring. Autograph is the name of Brady’s platform which will feature major brands from the sports, entertainment, and fashion worlds that will use it to issue NFTs. (TheBlock) Read More

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